Concurring with the World Water Week (28th August – 2nd September 2016) with a focus on ‘Water for Sustainable Growth’, GIZ has launched a 6-day intensive skilling programme for skills development of the technicians and helpers of the existing CETP and ETPs of the industries The skills development activity is a part of the “Sustainable and Environment-friendly Industrial Production” (SEIP) project of the Indo-German Development Cooperation. The programme is supported by SCGJ (Skill Council for Green Jobs of the National Skill Development Corporation) and VIA (Vapi Industries Association). The programme offers sills development ton selected modules from the Qualification Packs developed by SCGJ for the ETP/CETP technicians and helpers. The programme has about 31 technicians and helpers participating from the CETPs (common effluent treatment plants) and ETPs (effluent treatment plants) located in the States of Uttarakhand, Delhi and Gujarat. The training programme is being conducted by a senior expert from DWA, Germany (German Association of Water, Wastewater and Waste).

The operators of the CETPs and ETPs play an important role in ensuring proper operation of these treatment plants so as to treat the wastewaters to the permissible limits and to control pollution to the receiving water bodies and environment. India has over 170 combined wastewater treatment plants (CETPs) and thousands of effluent treatments plants (ETPs) in individual industries for treating industrial wastewater. A preliminary survey showed that nearly 60% of staff employed in the CETPs/ETPs are of the category of technicians and helpers. It is important to bring to the qualification levels in line with the National Skill Qualification framework by the Government of India.

Post the completion of the programme, the participants will undergo an examination and will be felicitated with certificates at the closing ceremony on September 3rd, 2016. Best performers of this ongoing “Skilling” programme will have an opportunity to participate in the flagship competition on “Water Skills” to be held on 30th September 2016 at 11:30 a.m. onwards at IFAT India 2016, Mumbai.